Comparing Image Quality in CC vs CS6

[SForencich]

I'm a CS6 (and Lightroom 6) holdout. Having recently upgraded to windows 10 my old programs still seem to work, but the performance is somewhat lacking. I understand there has been a world of new features added to both PS and LR since CS6, but speaking strictly from a image quality standpoint (not compositing etc.) is there a significant advantage to running the latest CC app?  Will the same file look better after similar processing in CC or the latest Lightroom? Thanks!

[D Fosse]

It's about what you can do with the image and how efficiently. The quality of your work; not the quality of the image as such.

So yes, the image may well look better in a newer version, because there are better tools to do better work.

[SForencich]

Yes, that's logical. Being able to control things more accurately ie. making selections etc. would lead to better looking images. Thanks!

[D Fosse]

It should also be said that if you're using ACR or Lightroom to process raw files from a camera, then improved raw processing will in fact improve the quality of the pixel data.

[JJMack]

Image quality should not change you will have the same pixels you had in the past.  However, you may  now be able to process your images pixels better using new features and improvements in newer version of Photoshop.   ACR 12.4 and 13.1 are much better then ACR 9.1.1 you use in CS6.  Some of the improvement in content aware and other feature  make life easier and you image development better. 

Adobe always release Photoshop before it ready for use you should at least install the latest two version  of Photoshop.  Photoshop 2020 version 21.2.4 and Photoshop 2021 version 22.1.   Photoshop 21.2.4 is very stable and and has few issues. Most likely the issues will not impact your work.   Photoshop 2021 has issues and Adobe has identified some they are working on.  Adobe also broke the Line tool in Photoshop 2021 they changed it to be somewhat like AI line tool I think.   It would be better if the line tool could draw lines in Photoshop.  The 3d feature also has new issues not noted by Adobe.  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/known-issues.html#ps-desktop 

[SForencich]

Your comments about ACR are spot on. As it is I have to convert many of my camera files to DNGs in order to work with them in CS6. I've been largely successful finding work arounds for various processes but there comes a point where you have to recognize what you're compromising by clinging to the past. Appreciate your input.